The squirrel photo crasher: How cheeky rodent became star of couple's holiday snap.

The strangest things often pop up when you least expect them.

But normally these episodes usually have nothing to do with squirrels.

So Melissa Brandts was given the surprise of her life when a curious rodent cheekily joined a photograph she and her husband were posing for.
The squirrel stares into the lens just as the camera took this photo

Curious: The squirrel joined Melissa Brandts' snapshot at Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park, Canada

The couple, who were exploring Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park, Canada, had stopped to take a timed picture of themselves by its picturesque shoreline.

Mrs Brandts explained: ‘We had our camera set up on some rocks and were getting ready to take the picture when this curious little ground squirrel appeared, became intrigued with the sound of the focusing camera and popped right into our shot’

The image is so startling that, had it not ran on the prestigious National Geographic magazine's website, many might have assumed it had been digitally altered.

Not so, according to Ms Brandts, who told the magazine: ‘It was a once in a lifetime moment - we were laughing about this little guy for days!’

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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.

I know someone who is friends with that couple, they have been getting all kinds of offers from companies to use the photo, but because they signed it over to Nat. Geo. they get nothing from it now, what an awesome shot though!!